Roma assistant coach Emanuele Mancini details life at Trigoria

Daniele De Rossi’s close friend and collaborator, Emanuele Mancini, discussed some aspects from the Roma’s preseason ahead of the start of Serie A.

In the series of interviews with De Rossi’s staff members, Mancini is the latest guest, detailing life at Trigoria and his brief past as a Primavera player at the club in 2002.

 “I was a central midfielder, let’s say in Daniele’s role, but with different qualities,” explained Mancini.

“It all happened in the space of a few days. On 30 December I went to train with the first team, doing a couple of sessions. Capello asked us to come back in the new year. Not even a week later, I found myself on the bench at the Stadio Rigamonti. We lost and I didn’t get out onto the pitch, but nevertheless I continued to train with the first team throughout the year. Without a doubt, that remains one of the best football experiences of my life.”

“I have to say it made a big impression on me to return to Trigoria, 20 years on from the last time. Everything had changed, but I’ve met once again with people I was close to, like some of the kit staff. Beyond that, you can imagine. It’s an honour to be here and it’s a huge opportunity for me. To do it alongside Daniele, even more so.”

“De Rossi? Next year it will be 30 years that we’ve known each other. We met for the first time when we were about 12 years old, in Roma’s youth sector. We were children. I’ve been in his presence as a friend over many years, but I never experienced him as a professional footballer in the dressing room.”

“It’s great to work with him. I’m seeing this side of Daniele in the dressing room that is very similar to his conduct in everyday life. He knows how to listen and takes things on board from everyone. That’s something I really appreciate.”

“We have always discussed football. He has his ideas and I have mine. For at least 10 years we’ve commented on various games, even drills on the pitch. Our playing careers came to an end. Daniele embarked on his path to becoming a coach. I also coached for a while at amateur level, then the opportunity came up at Spal and it all started from there.”

“We have always been connected. We met as children and the relationship was born. Even though we were about 50 kilometres apart: he in Ostia, me on the Flaminia. That’s how it has always been over the years. Our families have connected, as have our children. Coaching together is a natural transition. Our discussions about football – about matches, about players – has always been there, essentially because we both have the same passion, that of coaching.”

“I’ve got a very good feeling for this season. The lads have worked really hard. In Trigoria we started pre-season with many youngsters and now the squad is taking shape. The internationals have returned and new arrivals have been added. Those who have started from 7 July have done very well.”

“We’ve made good progress. We’ve worked a lot on fitness and done very well on that. From a tactical point of view, as I said, we’re making more gradual progress, considering that we had to include players – both the returnees and new arrivals – a little at a time. We are on the right track, though.”

“We are a united group – everyone is useful and can do everything. Of course, everyone has their own area of expertise, but the idea across the board is that everyone can contribute. You can take cues from everyone, at any time. We are all on the same level. Having exchanges is good and helps you in your work.”

“I am an assistant coach. I work on the methodology aspect of training, on the training sessions themselves, but also on match preparation. Some have more of an aptitude for studying opponents, while I support the coach in the training sessions. It’s also the area I like best, working on the field. We all do a bit of everything, with each member having their own characteristics.”

“You choose the technical equipment, which is an important step. Then you establish your objectives. Every week you draw up a programme and decide which points to cover in each session. And we go and set up the drills on the field, for one or two daily sessions, so we can achieve what we set out to.”